Machine for applying hood caps to bottles



Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS To BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN YENTOR. BY flrw r 1- 1 1 33 ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. BRIGGS 2,364,776

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR APPLYIIIIG HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 12, 1944-. A BR1GG$ 2,364,776

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed April'7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 275 I 276 INVENTOR:

l 277 d ljzu 1 131 7 Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ji -=15 E1512 1 INVENTOR:

flr fi r 13! Dec. 12, 1944.

A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS IO BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 IIIIIIIIH Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS IO BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 (/B INVENTOR. 1 1 1' %M*/ Dec. 12, 1944.

A. J. BRIGGS MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed April 7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR."

Dec. 12, 1944. A. J. BRIGGS I 2,364,776

MACHINE FOR APPLYING HOOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed April '7, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 1C 1NVENTOR. BY (11 1 115199 Patented Dec. 12, 1944 MACHINE FOR APPLYING HQOD CAPS TO BOTTLES Arthur J Briggs, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor of one.- half to William L. Hinds, Fayetteville, N. Y.

Application April '7, 1941, Serial No. 387,190

' 6 Claims. (01. 226 -80) This invention relates to a machine for applying hood caps to bottles. More particularly the invention contemplates a machine operable automatically to form a cup shaped cap from a flat disk of sheet material, such as paper; apply the cap to the bottle and to secure the cap to the bottle by encircling the skirt of the cap with a flexible strand and twisting the overlapping portions of the strand to secure the ends of the strand together in a manner by which the ends of the strands are readily releasable.

The invention has as an object a machine of the type referred to embodying a particularly economical and compact structure operable through a cycle to form and apply the cap and secure the same to the top of the bottle.

The invention has as a further object a cap applying machine embodying a particularly novel mechanism for forming the caps from fiat disks of sheet material. Another object of the invention is a novel mechanism for looping the flexible strand about the skirt of the cap and releasably securing the ends of the strand one upon another, said mechanism being particularly simple and durable in use.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the mechanism for looping the strand about the cap and securing the ends of the strand, with parts shown in section and parts broken away, and contiguous parts of the remaining-mechanism of the machine being omitted.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a view taken on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the drive mechanism of the machine taken on line 5-5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational front view of the structure shown in the right portion of Figure 2. 1

Figure 7 is a view taken on line Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the strand twisting mechanism taken on line 8-8, Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the drive gearing for the strand twisting unit looking to the left Figure 6.

I Figure 10 is a view taken substantially on line 10-40, Figure 6.

Figure 11 is a top plan viewrof the strand wrapping and twisting mechanisms 'shown in the lower portion of Figure 2 with parts in section.

Figure 12 is a. view, similar to Figure 11, illustratingth'e relative position of the parts during a later period in the cycle of operation.v

Figure 13 is an end elevational view looking to the right Figure 1.

- Figure 14 is an enlarged front elevational view of the take-up mechanism shown in Figure 13 and at the extreme left-in Figure 1.

Figure 15 is a view of the strand take-up mechanism shown in Figure 13 with the operating parts of the mechanism in a difierent position. v

Figure 16 is a view taken on line IE-l6, Figure 1. 1 Y

Figure 17 is a top plan view of the cap disk transfer and cap forming mechanism.

Figure 18 a, front elevational view, partly in section, of the structure shown on line I8-.-|8, Figure 17. a v

Figure 19 is an end elevational view, looking to the left Figure 2, of the drive mechanism of the strand wrapping unit. l V

' Figures 20 to 25 inclusive illustrate the top of the bottle and skirt of the cap in section and the contiguous portion of the, strand wrapping and twisting units, these views illustrating the successive movement of these units in wrapping the strand about the skirt of the cap, twisting the overlapping portions of the strand and drawing the twisted portions tightly.

The machine is supported on a vertically arranged column 30 mounted upon a suitable base plate 3|. During the capping operation, the bottle B is supported upon a cylindrical support 32 mounted on the upper end of a stem 33 slidably mounted in a bracket 34 secured to the under side of a table 35. The table 35 is supported by an arm 36 extending radially from the column 30 and having a split hub 31 provided with the conventional clamping bolt 38, all whereby the table 35 may beadjusted vertically on the column 30 and clamped into adjusted position by the bolt 38.

The mechanism forforming the cap, applying the same to the top of a bottle and securing the strandabout the cap, isarranged in a housing having inner and outer end walls 40, 4|, a rear wall 42, and a curved top wall 43.v The inner wall 40 of this housing is secured to a gear housing 44. having a cylindrical split portion encircling the column 30 and being also provided'witha clamping bolt 46. With this arrangement, either the table 35 or the housing 44 may be fixedly secured to the column 38 and the other element adjusted axially of the column tov accommodate bottles of different heights.

Where the machine is used with a bottle conveyor, it is preferable to leave the table. 35 and arm 36 secured tothe columnat. a height which will bring-the 'table in register with the conveyor and in this instance, the upper. housing is adjusted complemental to the height of the bottle being capped. These adjustments are conveniently obtained by a screw 31' journalled at its lower end in a bracket 48 secured to the hub'31 and threading at its upper end into abracket 49 secured to the hub 45 of housing 44; A short shaft 50 is journalled horizontally in the brack et 48 and is provided with a'beveled gear 5| one of the apertures in the cap forming and transfer member.

I The cap transfer and forming member is in the nature of a three pocket turret secured to the lower end of a stem 13 'journalled vertically in the frame and provided at its upper end with a freely running pinion gear 14. These pockets consist of circular members 15, I6 and 11 eX- tending outwardly from the stem." and being equally spaced circumferentially. Each of the members 15, 76, I1 is formed with a central aperture 1a of slightly greater diameter than theplungert56, see Figures 1'7, 18. The gear 14 is I connected to the upper end of the shaft 13 by meshing with a similar gear on the lower end a" cap transfer member andare presented to a cap: forming. and cap transferring member, the disktransfer member being cooperable with the cap forming and transfer memberto form a disk into the cap .of substantially inverted cupforma tion. I The formed cap is transferred in axial alinement with the bottle '3 on the bottle support,

means of acne way or ratchet clutch. Accordingly, when thegear'is operated in a clockwise direction, Figure 1'7, the cap transfer mechanism is operated in a similar direction. In Figure 17,

the circular member 16 is positioned in alinement with the bottle on the bottle-support. The member15 is positioned to receive a disk 53 transferred from the magazine 54. An annular member 80 is'secured to .thehousing as by screws 8| and is arranged immediately below and in registhe support being thereupon elevated to bring the 7 top of the bottle into engagement with the cap and thereafter a flexible strand is wrapped about the skirt of the cap with the ends or overlapping portions of the strand twisted together ina manner whereby the capv is securelyafflixedto the bottle. The twisting of the strand is done in such a" manner that the strand is untied' or undone by simply grasping one of the protruding ends thereof and pulling the end toward the opposite end of the strand, 7 v

The cap transfer member consists of a cylim drical plunger 56 mounted uponthe upper end of a stem 51, the lower end of which is secured in an arm 58 carried by a stem 59; The stem 59 is vertically slidable in bosses 68, 6| extendinginwardly' from therear 'wall 42 of thehousing. The upper end of the stem 59 isiprovided with an'elongated pinion gear 62. A collar .63 is secured to the stem 59 intermediate the ends there of to receive a yoke 64 secured to the lower end of a rod 65, the upper end of which is connected to an arm 66 through a link. The arm 66 is connected to Oneend of a shaft 68 journalled horizontally in the top Wall 43. The shaft 68 is provided with a downwardly extending arm '69 provided with aroller fll engaging a cam 1| mounted upon a cam shaftlZ journalled hori zontally in the upper housing. During each revolution ofthe shaft 12, the stem 59 is elevated a short distance, returnedto its lowest position, again elevated an appreciable distance, and again returnedto its lowest position. The stem 59 is journalled in the frame or housing'of the machine in such position that theplunger56 may be oscillated from a position alinement with the magazine 54 to a position in alinementwith ter with a cap forming memberwhen the same is positioned as indicated by said member 15 in Figure 1'7.

The arrangement stem 59 is moved in a clockwise direction Figure 1'7 to bring the plunger 56in register with the stack formation in .magazine 54. The plunger is thereupon elevatedinto engagement with the lowermostdisk 53 of the stack forma",

tion. The stem 51 is provided with an axially extending passage 84, the lower end of which is provided with a; laterally extending nipple 85 connected by a flexible tube 86 to .a suitable source of vacuum not shown. When the plunger 56 is moved into engagement with the lowermost disk, vacuum is applied throughlthe tube 86 and upon downward movement of'the plunger 56,

a disk 8l is causedto. adhere thereto. Subsequently, the shaft 59 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction Figure 17 until the plunger 56 is moved in register with the annular member 88, and at this time one of the cap forming mem bers 15, 16 or T! is also positioned inalinement with the member 88. Thereupon, the stem 59 is again elevated causing theperiph'eral margin of the disk 81 to be compressedbetween the confronting serrated faces of the member 88 and a cup shaped member 88 slidably mounted upon the stem 51 and urged upward by a helical com pression spring 89. Upon further upward movement of the stem 59,,the plunger 56 is moved through .the aperture in the annular member 88 the marginal portion of the disk at tobe gathered and folded downwardly forming a cup shaped cap, as indicated at 98, Figure 18. When the cap is thus formed, the depending skirt portion of the cap springs out radially so that the lower edge thereof rests upon the marginal portion of the cap forming member about the aperture 18. The stem 59' is then moved downwardly to the bottom of its stroke, as indicated in Figure 18, and the cap transfer turret is rotated in a clockwise direction to move the member in which the cap has been formed to the position occupied by the member indicated at 16, Figure 17. The bottle B, is thereuponelevated and the top of the bottle passed into the formed cap 98.

The stem 59 is elevated and oscillated and the is such that'the shaft or stem 13 rotated intermittently-and in timed relation by cam mechanism mounted upon the shaft .12. The cam shaft 12 is journalled in antifriction bearings 9|, 92 arranged in the end walls 40, 4 I of the housing. The shaft extends through the end wall 40 into the housing 44 and is provided with a worm gear 93 secured thereto through a one revolution clutch operated by a vertically extending rod 94, the lower end. of which is slidably mounted in an arm .95 mounted on the table arm 36. The arm.95 is connected to a pin 96 extending upwardlytfrom the bottle support, this connection being efiected through a U shaped member 98 and a link 99. This arrangement is such that when the bottle B is placed upon the bottle support 32 in proper alined relation to the cap applying mechanism, the clutch, indicated at I00, Figure 5, is engaged and remains engaged during one revolution of the cam shaft 12. A worm is mounted upon a shaft IDI journalled at right angles to the shaft 12 and meshes with the worm gear 93. The outer end of the shaft IOI is providedwith a pulley wheel I02 connected to a driving motor I03 by means of a belt I04. p q The gears 62, 14 are rotated and accordingly the stems 59, I3 by means of an interrupted gear H journalled horizontally on the top of the housing. The gear H0 is oscillated through the means of a link III pivotally connected at one end to the gear 0' and connected at its other end to a vertically extending lever H2 pivotally mounted to the housing at its lower end as at I I3. An arm I I2 is secured to the pivot I I3 and providedwith a roller Il4 engaging the edge of the cylindrical'cam H5. The earn II5'is operable to move the lever II2 axially of the shaft 12 and accordingly to efiect oscillation j of the gear I I0. The gear I I0 is arranged in mesh with the pinions 62, 14. The pinion 62 is fixedly secured to the stem 59, whereby oscillation of the the. pad. During this upward movement offthe cap, the skirt thereof is gatheredrtightlyiabout the neck of the'bottle by an annular seri'esof spring fingers I35. The upper ends of the spring fingers l35'are normally positioned radially out- 'wardly, as indicated in Figures 17 and 18. HOW-.- ever, during the upward movement of the bottle and the cap, the fingers I35 are pressed radially .inwar'dly by a ring I36 having a tapered bore which is cooperablel upon downward movement,

I36 are urged upwardly by helical compression gear IIO effects oscillation of the stem 59. vAs

previously explained however, the gear 74 is connected to the stem 13 through a one way clutch and accordingly, the stem 13 is only intermittently rotated in one direction, this'being a clockwise direction Figure 17.

The bottle support 32 is elevated in proper timed relation by a cam II6 secured on the outer end of a shaft III journalled at one end in a bracket II8 depending from the table 35 and at its opposite end in the hub of the arm 36. The inner end of the shaft HT is provided'with a gear a arranged to mesh with a gear II9 journalled in a housing I20 carried by the hub 3'! of the table arm and is slidably splined to a vertically'extending shaft I2I, the upper end of which is provided with a gear I22 arranged in mesh with agear I23 secured to the end of the cam shaft 12.

These connections are such that the bottle support 32 is elevated at the beginning of the rotation of the cam shaft 12 and is maintained in elevated position during the major portion of the rotation of the shaft 12. This elevation of the bottle support causes the top of the bottle to enter the formed cap 90,as previously stated. and upon further movement the ca is elevated out of the aperture 18 of the cap transfer member, the top of the cap being pressed against the top of the bottle by a pad I30 mounted on a stem slidably mounted ina sleeve I32 slidable vertically in the frame. Upward movement of the pad I30, relative to the sleeve I32, is resisted by a helical compression spring I33 encircling the stem of springs I45, and the stem I40; is urged upwardly by a helical compression spring I48 arranged between the bracket MI and a collar I49 secured to the stern I40 and being providedv with-an a'rm I50 having a roller I 5| engaging a cam I52. The cam I52 is so positioned on the shaft "relative to the other cams that the stem I40 is-caused to move downwardly and therefore efiectdown ward movement of the ring I36 afterthe bottle top has; enteredthe 'cap 90. Thereupon, the skirt 'of the cap iscontracted tightly about the neck'of ,the bottle and maintained in this manner-while the flexible strandi's wrapped" and se cured about the skirt of the-cap; I

The bottle'support is elevated sufficiently to move the top of the bottle and the top. portion of the cap thereon above the cap transfer members 15, I6, 11, and with the skirt portion of the cap pressed against the neck of the bottle by the contracting fingers I35, as illustrated in Figure 2. During this upward movement *of the bottle and the cap, the top of the cap isengaged by the spring pressed plate I30 which has been moved downward byroller I53 carried by sleeve I32"being engaged by a cam I54, As the bottle moves upwardly, spring I33 is compressed and the cap is thus held on the top of the bottle while it is moved upwardly through the aper ture of the transfer member. Cam I54 is so formed as to permit the sleeve I32 and'pad I 30 to be raised above the bottle during the rapping of the strand around the skirt of the cap.

The flexible strand, in the form of a string, thread, tape, or the like, is carried upon a spool I rotatably mounted upon a pm I 6I carried in a bracket I62 extending outwardly from the end wall 4|. The strand; indicated at s, is wrappedabout the skirt of the cap by a strand wrapping unit, the principal element of which is a finger I63, andthe wrapped strand ,is Socured by a twisting unit, the main element of which isarotary member I64. P V

The wrapping finger I63 is mounted at one endto a pair of arms I65 extending radially from a pair of gears I66. The arms I65 are pivotally secured to the finger I63 as at I61. The gears I66 are connected by a pinion I68 which is arranged to mesh with both gears, and the arrangement is such that the links I65 are main: tained in parallel relation. The gear I66, ad'- jacent the end of the finger;I63, is securedto the lower end ofa shaft no 'journalled verti gear segment I86.

cally in a bracket I12 slidably mounted upon a rod I13 extending lengthwise of the'mechanism housing and being'supported at each end by an arm I15 journalled for rotation. upon the cam shaft 12. Means, hereinafter described, is provided for eflecting a slight swinging movement of the rod I13 toward and from the axis of the bottle.

The bracket I12 is provided with an upwardly extending arm I18 and is formed at its upper end with a fork or yoke cooperable with a sleeve I19 slidably mounted upon the shaft 12' and keyed thereto against rotation as by key I80. The arm I18 serves to prevent any rotationof the bracket I12 upon the rod I13 and also to effect axial movement of the sleeve I19 upon the shaft 12 during axial movement of the bracket I12 on the rod I13. The bracket I12 is also provided with an inwardly extending arm I8I having a roller I82 arranged in the groove of the cylindrical cam II5, this cam being operable upon rotation of the shaft 12 to eflect axial movement of the bracket I12 and the sleeve 119' toward and from the axis of the bottle.

The shaft I10 is provided at. its upper end with a beveled gear I85, rotation of which is effected by a gear segment I86 mounted upon a disk I81 secured to the sleeve I19. The disk I81 is formed with a cylindrical flange I88 having a cut-out portion I89 coextensive with the The shaft I10 is also provided with a collar I90 arranged just under the beveled pinion I85 and which has a flat surface at its periphery cooperable with the cylindrical flange I88 to prevent rotation of the shaft I10 except when the gear segment I86 is in mesh with the pinion I85. The connecting pinion I68 is journalled on a stud I9I arranged in the bracket I12, and the inner gear I66 is also similarly arranged on a stud I92. I

With this construction it will be apparent that during one revolution of the cam shaft 12, the bracket I12 is successively moved forwardly and -rearwardly, and during a portion of this move-,

ment the gears I66 are simultaneously rotated.

The-effect, of these movements is to produce an orbital movement of the free end of the finger I63, whereby it travels in a path encircling the cap on the bottle and is effective during such orbital movement to wrap the strand about the skirt of the cap. V

The strand S is threaded from the spoolI60 downwardly through a take-up mechanism consisting of a hook shaped bracket I95 depending from the end wall 4| of the housing. The outer shorter leg I96 of this bracket is formed with a slot arranged in one side of the leg I96 and extendin vertically to receive the lower end of a gripping finger I91 pivotally mounted to the leg as .at I98. The outer leg I96 and the inner leg I95 of the bracket'are provided with alined apertures-to'receive, the strand S. The lower end of the finger I91 is normally maintained in spaced relation from the leg I96 by a compression spring I99 arranged in the leg I96, see Figure-15, whereby the strand may pass freely through the apertures in legs I95, I96. H j

The take-up mechanism further includes a take-up arm 200 pivotally mounted at one end to an arm 20I as at 202, and provided at its other end with an eye 203 to receive the strand S. The arm 20I is rigidly connected to an arm 204 extending in angular relation and being provided at its free end with a roller 206 positioned to be engaged by a take-up cam 201.. The arm 200 is yieldingly connectedintermediate its ends to the free end of the arm 20I vby'means of a bolt 208 pivotally mounted at one end in the arm 200 and extending through an enlarged aperture in the arm 20I. The outerend of the bolt 208 is encirc1ed, bya helical compression spring '209 inserted between the end of the arm 20I and an adjusting nut 2I0.

Normally, the free end of the arm 200 is positioned so that the -eye 203 thereof is in alinement with the apertures in the bracket I95, as illustrated in Figure 13. The take-up mechanismis operable by moving the lower end of the finger I91 into engagement with the bottom wall of the slot in leg I96 of the bracket I thus gripping the strand tightly and then moving lever 200 rearwardly to the position shown in Figure 15. The upper end of the finger I91 is moved in a clockwise direction, to gripping position, Figures 13 and 15, by a lever 2I5 pivotally mounted as at 2I6 on the bracket I95 and having a depending portion 2 I1 cooperable with the upper end of the finger I91. The lever H5 is provided with cam surfaces 2I8, 2I9 which are engaged by a roller 220 carried on the lever 20I. The arrangement is such that when the levers 200, 20I are moved toward the bracket I05 by spring 36I, the roller 220 is positioned in the lower cam surface 2I8 of lever 2I5 permitting the lever to move upwardly, moving the depending portion 2I1 in a clockwise direction and permitting the lower end of finger I91 to move outwardly under the influence of spring I99 out of strand gripping position. Immediately upon rearward movement of the levers 200, 20I, the roller 220 rides up on the cam surface 2 I9 causing the lever 2I5 to move downwardly and causing the finger I91 to grip the strand. Upon further outward movement of the levers 200, 20I, under the influence of cam 201, the slack material in the strand S between the gripping finger I91 and the bottle is taken up, see Figure 15.

The strand S, after leaving the take-up mechanism just described, passes upwardly through an aperture 22I in finger I63, and then downwardly through an eye 222 formed in the free end of the finger. Normally, the strand 3 depends slightly from the end of the finger I63, as illustrated in Figure l. 1

- The strand twisting unit is mounted upon a bracket 230 having an elongated sleeve 23I slidably mounted upon the rod I13, the sleeve 23I having a. collar 232 adjustably secured to the outer end thereof and provided with a roller 233 positioned in the groove of the cylindrical cam 234 which is somewhat similar in contour tothe cam II5 but with complemental portions of the groove or cam track extending in opposite directions to that of cam I I5. The bracket 230 extends upwardly and terminates in a yoke 236 engaging a sleeve 231 slidably mounted upon cam shaft 12 and being keyed thereto as by key 238. The depending portion of the bracket 230 is f0rmed with a hub or boss 288 extending toward the bottle in parallel relation to the cam shaft 12 and rod I13. The bracket is also formed with a laterally extending shelf 24I see Figures 7, 8 and 10.

The twisting mechanism per se consists of the cylindrical block I64 formed with an annular flange midway between the ends thereof and machined to form a spurgear 243. The rear end of the block I64 is formedwith an annular re-- cess 244, andthe forward end is formed wlth an annular flange 245. The block l64 is rotatably mounted in a pair ofsupp'orting blcks'246, '241 provided with mating semi-circularrecesses to receive the block I64.- The innerblock 246 is formed with a flange 249 received by the annular recess 244 on the rear of the block I64, and the block 241 is formed with a recess to receive the fiange 245 on the opposite end of the block I64. In this manner, the block I64 is' rotatably retained in the blocks 246, 241."

The block I64 is'recessed to receive a stationary finger piece 258 formed with a cylindrical portion I intermediate its endsand which is ar-- ranged within the annular flange 245. The block I64 is also recessed to slidably receive a piece 252 carrying a roller 253. A movable finger piece 254 is pivotally mounted to the finger 250, as'at 256, and is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 251 arranged to be engaged by the roller 253 upon axial movement of the piece 252 to the right Figure 8, causing the outerend 0f the finger 254 to move into strand gripping engagement with finger 250. The piece 252 is-pressed outwardly, or'to the right Figure 8 by spring 364.

- A shaft 258 is rotatably journalled in the hub 240 and is provided at one end with a gear 259 arranged tomesh with the gear 243, and at its opposite end is provided with a gear 260 driven by an interrupted gear 26I mounted upon the cam shaft 12 through a chain of gears 262,263, 264, 265, journalled upon studs 261 carried by the bracket 238. The gears 262, 263 are attached and rotate together.

In Figure 2, the strand has been'wrapped about the skirt of the cap and the overlapping portions of the strand twisted. Immediately following this stage of the operation, a cutting mechanism in the nature of a scissors comprising a blade 218 and a blade 21I movable relative to the blade 210, sever the strand adjacent the free end of the finger I63. fingers 250, 254 remain inthis position until the mechanism is again initiated on a new cycle by the application of a bottle to the bottle support 32 effecting operation of the one revolution clutch I00 in housing 44. Upon engagement of this clutch, cam shaft 12 begins to rotate in a clockwise direction Figure 16, counter-clockwise direction Figure 19, whereupon the cams H5, and 234 cause axial movement of the finger I63 and the gripping fingers 258,254 toward the axis of the bottle, which movement is efiected to position the depending end of the strandb'etween the gripping fingers 250, 254. v

At this time, the free ends ofthese fingers are spaced apart, this spacing being effected by inward movement of the piece 252 and. the roller 253 carried thereby, Figure 8, permitting the tail portion of the finger 254 to move toward the piece 252 and the outer end of the finger to move away from the adjacent end of thestationary finger 250. 1 e

The inward movement of the piece 252 is effected by a striker member 215 secured to a shaft 216-journalled transversely in the shelf MI. The opposite end of the shaft 216 is provided with a gear quadrant 211 arranged to mesh with a quadrant 218 having an extending portion 219 engaged by a slide 288 vertically movable in bosses282, 283 projecting from the bracket 238. The upper end of the slide 288 is provided with a roller 284 engaged by a cam 286. The ar- The finger I63 and the gripping rangement of the cam 286 issuch that immedi-.- ately upon operation of the machine, the slide 280 is moved downwardlycausing the"v striker member 215 to swing upwardly engaging .there'ar end of the piece 252 and moving it'inwardly, whereby the g'ripperfingers 250, 25'4are' open at the time the strand, depending a from the "finger I63, is moved in proximity thereto. Immediately after the free end of the strand has'been placed between the gripping members'250, '254', cam -286 permits the slide 280 to move upward under the-action of tension spring 290 returning the striker member to the positions'hownin Figured.

The strikermember 215 is providedwith two striking surfaces 29I, 292, each moving on a' dif"- ferent radius from the axis 'of the shaft 216." The purpose for the two striking surfaces '29I,'292'-"-is that it is necessary to move the piece 252 inwardly at the beginning of the capping operation'wh'en this piece is positioned as indicated in Figure-'7, and as will be apparentfrom further descrip tion hereinafter, it is also necessary to move' Le piece 252 inwardly when 'tlie -blockfl64" is 'positioned 180 from that shown in Figure '1,"'and inasmuch as the piece 252" is located off center of the block its position 'variea'upon rotation of the block thus requiring'the two hammers-or strikers 29I, 292.

In the immediate preceding descriptionjfthe finger I63 and the gripping fingers 250; 254 have been moved fromth'e position shown in Figure 20 to the position shown inFigure 21. and the depending end of the strandhas been gripped by the twisting fingers, :Thelaterally'cdrved surfaces 296, 2910f cams II 5, 23 4 respectivelythen "cause the wrapping unit andthe twisting unit to move inopposite directions or away from the axis 'of the bottle, the movement of the wrap} ping unit being somewhat greater than the move-v ment of the twisting unit, D ur'ingthis move ment, the. gear segment I 86has moved "into en gagement. with the pinion] 85 effecting rotation of the gears I66. The arrangement of camsI I5. 234, the gear quadrant I86,- the gears'I'66 and the links I being such. as to effect. an'orbital movement of the free end ,of thefinger I63, or to cause'it to encircle thebottle. as illustrated in Figures22 and 23. After thestrand has been wrapped approximately 180 about theskirt of the cap, the wrapping unit is moved to the right, Figure 23, a.considerabledistance inqorder to also loop the strand overa hook orupwardlypro- .iecting end 300 of an arm- 38I pivotedin the bracket 23Ilon a pin 302. The opposite. endrof this pin'is provided with an arm 303 .having a laterally extending pin-384 arranged to be engaged by the offset portion 305 of a :slide .366 similar to the slide 280 and which is-provided at its upper end with a roller-301.engagedby a cam 308. .1.

The finger or hook portion 308-moves vertically through a slot in a guard plate 3I8. Normally, the hook 300, is arranged in the" up posi tion,"as shown in Figure 6, and as the finger-I63 is moved through its' paththe strand is-looped about the hook as illustrated'in Figure 23; *The finger I63 is then moved rearwardly-and during all of this movement of the finger I63 up'tothis point, the block I64 remains'stationary and "is formed with a slot 3 extending radially *inlever 200.

"twisted a ,rplurality 20f times about the :intermediate portion of the strandand adjacent the endrof the finger 15.3. l-In; Figure 23, the end or the strand :is' shown as being twisted one turn about the intermediate portion of the strand. i hearrangementof the gearing-carried by the bracket 230;, ;is ,such as to cause the block 451 to stop or come to rest the slot 3-H extending rearwardly, The block 164 is stopped in position at the end :of the twisting operation in order that the loop of the strand :may be drawn about the skirt of the capby the take-up The block is held "stationary in bothpositions by a disk =315zkQYEd :to the cam shaft 1.2 and provided cut-out portions 3=l 5which cooperate with a cut-out @portion of a disk =31"! associated with the pinion :252. With this arerangement, rotation of the pinion 1262 is :prevented while the gear n26?! is rotating to bring the next set of teeth into engagement with the.

p -ion w v.

With the strand thusllooped about the bottle and the :hook 300., and the strand havin been twisted, cam 388 tl'ren operable to cause the hook 300 to move downwardlm-and immediately after this operation-the take-dip mechanism is cffec ztive to pull the strand through the eye of the finger J63, taking upthat ,portion of the strand which was previously looped about-the book 1330 and causing the twisted portion tofbe drawn tighflyagainst the cap, andslmultaneous- 1y with this operation the rod 1'13, and accordingly both the wrapping and twisting units, are

' swung ,rearwardly to assist in drawing the twisted portion tightly against the cap, as is illustrated in Figure 25. This momentary rearward movement of the rod 113 is eflected by a cam 32-0 enacting with a roller .32! carried on the end of an arm 322, theopposite endof which is secured to a rod 323 journalled in the frame and to which a downwardly depending arm 324 is secured and which is pivotally connected at its outer end to a -link 325 Figure 19, and this latter link :is connected to the rod r13. Accordingly, when the lobe 325 of the cam 32!! engages the roller 32L the-rod I15 ls swung rearwardly. The shaft "3 is yieldingly maintained in forward position by tension spring 221 connected at one end to the lever 322 and to the opposite end to the housing 42.

The capping operation is completed by severing the strand adjacent to the end of the finger M3 by the scissor blades 210, 2'. The blade 213 "is pivotally mounted on' a bracket 33o havingan upwardly inclined boss 33!, see Figures 1 and 1c and in which a rack 332 issl'idably mounted and arranged to mesh with a pinion 334. This pinion is associated with blade 215 and an am 335 provided with a pin at its outer end operating in a slot 336 termed in the end of the movable 7 blade 214. The blade 210 is maintained in its upward position, as shown in Figure 16, by tension spring 331 connected at one end to the boss 33! and atits 0pposite'end to the blade 2143, see Figure .1. The upper end of the rank 332 is provided with a roller 340 which is engaged by a pin 350 carried by cam 234,, see Figure 16,, and

which is "operable to -:depress therack 332 effecting-clockwise rotation of therarm335s, :Figure -16. Thismovement effects clockwise rotation of the Made 210; and the movable blade :21! carried -.thereby.- The-arrangement issuch that this rotation of the severing mechanism continues until the blades 1210,, 2-11 straddle. the *strand.

Further downward movement of the rack there:- aiter effects counter-clockwise rotation of the movable blade 21.1 and accordingly the strand is severed. Simultaneously with this operation, the

i the strand is looped about the skirt ofthe cap,

twistedgand drawn :up,.it will be understood that a disk has been transferred from the magazine 54, drawn through the Lmember '80, and inserted intoone of the cap carrying pockets 15, 16, or I, That is, during the appIication-of a cap to a bottle a .cap is being formed for the next succeeding bottle. v I I .As previously explained, the gear T4 rotatab'ly mounted-upon the upper end of the stem .13 and has associated with it a housing 350 provided with a plurality of notches 35!. A 'di'sk 352 is secured to the shaft "l3 and (carries a spring pressed zpawl 353, "the free 'end "of which engages one or the notches '35! when the "gea 14 and housing 350 are rotated in a clockwise direction Figure 17 thus 'eliecting rotation of the shaft 13 in the same direction. 'fIhe disk 352 is iormed with a plurality of slots 355 into which an index ing pin 356 is movable and function's to accurate lyposition the cap transfer 'me'mberat the end of each movementth'erecflf'. v 7

During rotation'b'ffthe'gear14,the indexing pin 356 is moved downwardly by a link 35'! operatively "connected -wan 'a link 358, the end of which is arranged in the path o'f'movement of pin 359 employed to secure cam 152 to the shaft '12, see Figure 2.

It will be observed that this machine is adva-m tageous in that it is only necessary to supply the dairy wi'th the hat di'sks $3; and that the machine is entirely automatic in its "operation off successively transferring the fiat disks from the magazine, i'o'rming them in-to hood cap form, applying the formed cap to the bottle, and securing the same to the top'of the bdttleby wrapping the twine about the skirt of the cap'and twisting the overlapping portions of the twinetogeth'er'. This operation of securing the ends of the twine consumes materially less time than thety ingof a knot, and while the strand is conveniently removed by simply pulling either rend thereof 'to-. ward the other it, nevertheless, securely holds the cap on the bottle *duri g ordinary handling and j use.

bottle produces a tamper-proof product in that the-twisted ends of the strand are of such'length' 'Thisamethod of securing the hood cap to the,

skirt of the cap and through said slot and the axis of said gripping member with a portion of the strand overlapping the free end held by said member, motion transmitting means operable to thereupon effect rotation of said gripping member to twist the overlapping portions of the I with a slot extending radially from the axis strand, and means operable to subsequently draw that portion of the loop extending through said gripping member against the skirt of the cap thereby forming a band for securing the cap on the top of the bottle, and severing means operable to sever the band from the supply of strand.

2. A machine for securing hood caps to bottles comprising means for supporting a supply of flexible strand, a wrapping finger, said strand extending through an eye formed in the'end of said finger, a gripping member formed with a slot eX- tending radially from the axis thereof, said gripping member being operable to grip the free end of the strand, and motion transmitting means operable to effect an orbital movement of the end of said finger to loop the strand about the skirt of the cap and through the slot in said gripping member with a portion of the strand overlapping the end thereof held by said gripping member, motion transmitting means operable to effect rotation of said gripping member to twist the overlapping portions of the loop, and means operable to draw that portion of the strand extending through said gripping member against the skirt of the cap thereby forming a cap securing band encircling the skirt portion of the cap, and severingmechanism operable to sever the band from said supply of strand.

3. A machine for securinghoocl caps to bottles comprising means ,for supporting a supply of flexible strand, a strand wrapping finger being provided at one end with an eye through which said strand is threaded, a strand gripping member formed with gripping fingers extending. forwardly toward the bottle and being operable to grip the free end of the strand and being formed with a slot extending radially from the axis there'- of, a hook arranged rearwardly of said gripping member, motion transmitting means operable to eifect an orbital movement of the end of the wrapping finger to loop the strand about the the slotin said gripping member with a portion of the strand overlying the free end thereof.

4. A machine for securing hood caps to bottles comprising means for supporting a supply of flexible strand, a strand wrapping finger being provided at one end with an eye through which said strand is threaded, a strand gripping member formed with gripping fingers extending forwardly toward the bottle and being operable to grip the free end of the strand and being formed skirt of the cap and over said hook and through I thereof, a hook arranged rearwardly of said gripping member, motion transmitting means operable to effect an orbital movement of the end of the wrapping finger to loop the strand about the skirt of the cap and over said hook and through the slot in said gripping member with a portion of the strand overlying the free end,

thereof, motion transmitting means to eifect rotation of said gripping member to twist the overlapping portion to the strand, means for moving said hook out of engagement with the loop and take-up mechanism operable thereupon to draw the strand through the slot of said gripping member and contract the same about the skirt of the cap, and severing mechanism operable to sever the loop from the source of supply.

5. A machine for securing hood caps to bottles comprising a finger piece movably mounted on the frame and being formed at one end with an eye, means for supporting a supply of strand threaded through said eye and depending therefrom, a strand gripping member positioned in proximity tothe top of the bottle on said support, actuating means cooperable to effect relative movement between said finger and said gripping member to position the depending portion of said strand in the gripping elements of said gripping member, means operable to close said gripping elements upon the strand, said actuating means being operable to further move said finger in an orbital path to encircle the skirt of the cap with said strand, means operable to effect rotation of said gripping member to wrap the adjacent portion of the strand held thereby around the intermediate portion of the strand extending from the eye of said finger, said actu- -ating means being also operable to effect relative axial movement between said finger and gripping member to draw the twisted portion of the strand tight, cutting means operable to sever the intermediate portion of the strand adjacent the eye of said finger, and means operable to release said gripping elements.

6. A machine for securing hood caps to bottles comprising means for supporting a supply of flexible strand, wrapping mechanism operable through an orbital path to wrap the strand about the skirt of the cap with one portion of the strand overlapping another, twisting mechanism operable to twist said overlapping portions tangentially to the cap, and means operable to contract the strand about the cap skirt, thereby forming a cap securing band, and severing mechanism operable to sever the strand from the supply thereof.

ARTHUR J. BRIGGS. 

